Without the required $1 million to manufacture and install a chosen hook design on Connecticut's new M-8 cars and similarly configured M-7 cars on Metro-North and Long Island railroads, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will not conduct the $100,000 trial program to install hooks on M-7 cars trains for the Harlem and Hudson lines, Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said.

"Metro-North Railroad is not in a position at this time to fund installation of bike hooks on M-7s or M-8's and, therefore, there is no business reason to pursue the pilot at this time," Anders said.

Although the railroad accepted bids on a contract to design a prototype storage device for the M-8 car last fall, the contract was never awarded, Anders said. About $100,000 was set aside for that work.

A trial program in spring 2008 that used a wall-rack system onboard two M-7 rail cars found the design was flawed and did not secure bikes well enough.

Last year Metro-North loosened its bicycle policy, allowing them aboard 35 of 49 "reverse peak" trains, those traveling north from Grand Central Terminal before 10 a.m. and towards Grand Central between 4 and 8 p.m.

Metro-North issues permits to bicyclists who can be barred from trains by conductors who deem cars too crowded.

The lack of additional work to approve a design this year is discouraging to riders who hoped a device would be ready to add to M-8 cars going into service in 2011, said Richard Stowe, founder of Rail*Trains*Ecology*Cycling, a group that promotes equal access to trains for cyclists.

"Frankly the late summer and early fall is a good time to do the pilot test because more cyclists are out to test the racks," Stowe said. "It makes good common sense to move forward with the testing now."

Members of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council, a state-appointed body representing commuters, say other passengers should have priority for scarce seating before bicycles take up space on peak-hour trains.

Jeff Maron, a Stamford commuter who sits on the council, said design of a bike hook or rack should be revisited after M-8 cars have come into service and begun to alleviate the seating crunch on many peak hour trains.

"The initial focus needs to be that the initial cars released provide seats to riders to have air conditioned rides in the summer and heated rides in the winter," Maron said. "As we augment the fleet we can look to add the bike racks, but the focus has to be on providing seats for our paying customers."